Of course, despite the casting search, we’re still keeping our fingers, toes and everything else crossed that the original Wildcats – including Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman – will make some sort of appearance in the new installment. Please?

In a statement, Disney Channels Worldwide president and CCO Gary Marsh said: “High School Musical is part of Disney Channel’s DNA. It embodies all that we stand for.

“As a way of continuing to embrace that heritage, we’re excited to announce ‘the start of something new’ as we launch a search for a new class of East High Wildcats to star in a fourth installment of the ‘High School Musical’ franchise.”

Disney Channel’s Teen Beach Movie and Teen Beach 2 director, Jeffrey Hornaday, will reportedly direct and choreograph the film, while Dan Berendsen (Hannah Montana: The Movie) and Peter Barsocchini (HSM 1, 2 and 3) have been recruited as screenwriters, according to THR.

Bill Borden and Barry Rosenbush will be the executive producers, with Jason La Padura, Natalie Hart and Kendra Patterson serving as casting directors.

Dancing on Ice has a ‘Fabulous’ new addition to its sparkling ice panel as JohnBarrowman takes a seat alongside Torvill and Dean and AshleyBanjo for the 2020 series.

A veteran of stage and screen, John Barrowman will be providing his very own expert critique as a fresh assortment of famous faces take to the ice next year.

The speculator skating competition, which sees celebrities paired with a professional skating partner in a bid to be crowned champion of the ice, returns in a blaze of glory next year.

John will be joined on the judging panel by head judges and skating legends Torvill and Dean, and dance supremo Ashley Banjo, as they cast their eye over the class of 2020 in a bid to find a superstar skater to follow in the footsteps of previous champions James Jordan and Jake Quickenden.

John Barrowman MBE said: “I am so excited to be returning to the Dancing On Ice family. Unlike most I have been through the rigorous task of skating live as a contestant in the first series. This is a thrilling adventure for me and I hope to bring a Fresh, Fun and Fab-u-lous angle to the judging panel.”

Katie Rawcliffe, Head of Entertainment Commissioning, ITV, said: “John’s quick wit, inimitable talent and all round fabulous personality make him the perfect addition to Dancing on Ice’s all star panel and we’re looking forward to seeing him bring his own brand of sparkle to the show.”

Related

With his latest film GO! premiering at Cinfest Oz later this month, there’s little doubt that Cooper Van Grootel’s career is on the rise. Having been acting since before he was a teenager and as an individual heavily influenced by the great work and legacy of the late Heath Ledger, Cooper’s passion for what he does comes across in every role he takes on and every performance he gives. Ahead of GO!’s premiere, he spoke to ThisIsTheLatest about his favourite memories on set, the one TV show he’d have loved to have starred in and the one piece of advice he’d pass on to upcoming actors.

TITL:
You’ve been acting for several years now, but was there ever a time, growing
up, that you considered taking another career path or has it always been about
performance and film/TV work for you?

Cooper Van Grootel: I began acting when I was about 11 years old, but before then I always wanted to be an AFL player, which is the Australian Football League, equivalent to the NFL in the USA. However, once I started acting, I couldn’t think about anything else and it’s been my passion ever since.

TITL:
Which one film or TV series, you watched, made you ultimately realize
“Yeah, I want to do that”?

CVG:
This is a funny one. I was actually extremely fascinated by the movie Coraline; its story-line, the
characters, the way the film was created and put together so well. It kind of
sparked a fire in me that made me want to do what these characters were doing.
Whatever that meant. So I began my search for a film school, where I found
Filmbites, a film school in Perth run by Hallie McKeig. I stuck with Filmbites
for 7 years up until I was 18 and that’s when I left for America.

TITL: Which actors might you say most inspire and influence
you when it comes to your career and your work? What is it about them that
encourages and motivates you so much?

CVG:
Heath Ledger. I think I can really relate to that guy in a lot of ways. We’re from
the same home town, we left Perth for America with the same burning passion,
Hollywood. Heath Ledger is a really motivating person, proving that if you set
your mind to something, it can be achieved.

TITL:
Can you recall the first project you ever auditioned for?

CVG:
I’m not 100% sure what my first audition was for, but it might have been a
short film back in Perth, when I was 11 years old. I didn’t get the role, but
the whole process of auditioning in front of people, with a camera, a blank
room and just your imagination, fascinated me.

TITL:
Do you find the audition process comfortable or is there always an
uncertainty/air of pressure around each one?

CVG:
For me, it’s a bit of both. I find it super exciting just being given the
opportunity to express my ideas in this craft and give it a shot, but at the
same time, it can make me nervous and anxious. I just try and have fun with the
whole process.

TITL: Your break-out came in
2014 with The Legend Of Gavin Tanner.
Can you recall your favourite time on the show, and are there any
lessons/particular experiences you’ve taken from that period and continued to
learn/grow from as a result?

CVG:
The Gavin Tanner set was just a whole
bunch of fun, everybody was having a great time. I think with every role you
book, you learn a lot about yourself. I remember having to get up at 6am to
shoot and my mum was there with me every day to watch over me, so I learnt that
my parents are so loving and supportive of this craft. I am very grateful for
that.

TITL:
You are perhaps best known for playing Brayden in the series Mystery Road, which was and is a huge
hit with an impressive cast. What was and is it about the series, do you think,
that has helped it to become so popular?

CVG:
Mystery Road is an incredible TV show
with some of the best acting I’ve ever watched, it truly blows me away. I think
it has done so well because of its suspenseful moments and heart-breaking
issues which are highlighted in the show about Australia’s society. It really
does keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next. I’m so
grateful to have worked on such a professional shoot.

TITL:
Your latest film GO! is having its
world premiere on August 28th at Cinefest Oz. Do you ever get nervous ahead of
big events like that and feel at all anxious about what those in attendance,
including critics, and what they might think?

CVG:
100%! I’m very excited and nervous at the same time. I hope people enjoy the
film as much as the cast and crew enjoyed making it. I think Cinfest Oz will
probably be one of the biggest film festivals I’ve been to so it’ll be a whole
new experience for me; I can’t wait!

TITL:
What can you tell me about the film and who you play in it?

CVG: A good way to describe GO! is kind of like the original Karate Kid but go karting instead of karate. A teenage boy, Jack, moves to a small town with his mum. Jack discovers a passion for go karting, where he meets a mentor who shows him the way of the sport. I play Dean, the antagonist of the film. It was an amazing opportunity and I tried my best to find the heart in the character even though he was the antagonist, as my goal was to do this character justice. One of the craziest parts of the experience was having my hair bleached white – it added to the character and was a lot of fun going through that experience with production.

TITL: How did you find working with the likes of director Owen
Trevor and your co-stars Francis O’Connor, Dan Wyllie and Richard
Roxburgh? Any fond or favourite memories from your time on set?

CVG: Working
with such professionals was daunting, but at the end of the day everybody wants
to do a good job and I think it’s important that you feel comfortable and
relaxed. That’s what Owen and the other actors brought to set. I could really
be at ease and was able to explore and play with my character. I remember one
of the first days shooting, I had to punch Will Lodder, who plays Jack. After I
delivered the punch, I slicked my bleached white hair back into place and from
that point on, it kind of became a character trait where in multiple scenes, I
slowly slicked my hair back in a menacing way. I think it worked well and Owen
loved it.

TITL:
Of all the roles and characters you’ve played so far, which one stands out the
most and why?

CVG: I recently shot a short film here in LA, called Pink Elephant. I think this role stands out the most because I proved to myself that I can achieve my goals over here in America; it’s just a matter of believing in yourself and setting your mind to it. I made so many great friendships on set, life-long ones I hope. That and I finally got to play the protagonist!

TITL:
If you could star in any TV series or film, past or present, which would it be?
Which actors/crews would you most like to work with?

CVG:
I would love to have been on Breaking Bad.
Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston are two of my favourite actors. They made that
show so exciting – I am truly envious of their work. Heath Ledger was going into
directing before he passed; he had an amazing vision, so I know he would have been
an incredible director and it would have been an honor to have the opportunity
to work with him.

TITL: Are there any upcoming projects in the pipeline you can tell
me about?

CVG:
I just had an audition in LA sent to a director so I have my fingers crossed at
the moment!

TITL: Away from acting, and particularly after long periods away
from home/on set, what activities or hobbies do you like to pursue? How
important is it for you to have that “unwind, me” time?

CVG:
I love to surf. Surfing is another passion of mine, but I never wanted to
pursue it professionally though. It’s a great way to clear your mind and rid
bad energy or thoughts. I think it’s vital that you have an outlet away from
acting. Acting can be physically and emotionally draining, so for me, surfing
helps keep the balance. I also like to play the guitar.

TITL: Finally, as someone who is gradually becoming more
established in the industry, what advice would you give to those starting out?
What one piece of advice that you were once given or have heard would you pass
on as encouragement and for motivation?

CVG:
Try not to worry too much about the future, focus on giving your best
performance and enjoying your time in the now.